The second in chronological order within the Stara Skvaryava iconostasis is the Sovereign tier, but it is not uniform either. The oldest elements in this tier are the portal of the Beautiful Gates and the Gates themselves. The portal is dated to 1645, and the authorship of the icons depicted on the portal belongs to a workshop that operated in the mid-17th century in the north-western part of modern Lviv Region and in the bordering areas, which now belong to Poland. The Gates themselves are slightly later in origin and may have come from a different ensemble, and it appears they were later adapted to the door frames. Additionally, the figure of Jesse in the lower part of the Gates is poorly preserved and was added to the existing carved composition, indicating a later intervention.
The Deacon’s Doors with the depiction of Archangel Michael are dated to 1677. Some researchers attribute them to the legacy of the well-known artist from Zhovkva, Ivan Rutkovych (died in 1703), while others only mention the artistic environment but do not confirm his authorship. Icons of the Sovereign tier and the predella icons of the Saviour and the Virgin Mary are also associated with Ivan Rutkovych and his artistic circle. Ivan Rutkovych typically signed his iconostases and even individual icons, but he did not leave his signature here, raising questions about authorship. However, the painting style supports this hypothesis.
The predella icon “Christ Giving the Keys to St Peter” is dated to 1685, and another date, 1687, is found in the foundation text on the ground of the icon of St. Nicholas. This allows us to discuss the execution of all other icons in this row within these timeframes: the Virgin Mary (with the predella “Moses and the Burning Bush”), Savour, and the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael. Interestingly, the last icon, most likely in the mid-18th century, had an entire altar added with a cartouche depicting the Nativity of Christ at the top. It is probable that the Crucifixion with Attendants at the top of the iconostasis also dates from the same period. It’s worth noting that similar compositions were characteristic of Ivan Rutkovych and his school. Zhovkva artists used them in their iconostases even until the mid-18th century, and this Crucifixion serves as confirmation of that.
Read about icons of this tier by following the links:
Ornamental predella of the icon of St. Nicholas
Deacon’s Doors with Archangel Michael
Predella “Moses and the Burning Bush”
Predella “The Giving of the Keys to St. Peter”
Icon “The Synaxis of Archangel Michael”
The description was prepared by Roman Zilinko, art historian, icon painter